Method and system for mobile device localization-based access

ABSTRACT

A method and system for facilitating an access request. The method may be executed in the processor of a server computing device and comprises receiving, at a memory of the server computing device, the request for access, the request for access performed using a security device at an access point device communicatively coupled to the server computing device, localizing a mobile computing device having a preestablished association with the security device, and enabling the request for access when a position of the mobile computing device as determined from the localizing is within a predetermined threshold distance from a location of the access point device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser.No. 15/944,407 filed Apr. 3, 2018, which in turn claims benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/641,676 filed Mar. 12,2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein relates to the field of mobile device indoornavigation and localization.

BACKGROUND

Users of mobile devices are increasingly using and depending upon indoorpositioning and navigation applications and features. Seamless, accurateand dependable indoor positioning of a mobile device carried or worn bya user can be difficult to achieve using satellite-based navigationsystems when the latter becomes unavailable, or only sporadicallyavailable and therefore unreliable, such as within enclosed, orpartially enclosed, urban infrastructure and buildings, includinghospitals, shopping malls, airports, university campuses and industrialwarehouses. Pedestrian navigation or positioning solutions may rely onsensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers that maybe commonly included in mobile phones and other mobile computingdevices, in conjunction with acquired wireless communication signal dataand magnetic field data to localize pedestrian users in possession ofsuch a mobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates, in an example embodiment, a server-based system formonitoring and enabling a request for access.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in one example embodiment, an architecture of aserver computing device for monitoring and enabling a request foraccess.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a method of monitoring andenabling a request for access.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Among other benefits and technical effect, embodiments provided hereinallow verification of a request for access performed at a uniqueposition or location, based on contemporaneously and independentlylocalizing a mobile device such as may be carried by user performing theaccess request. A method, executed at least partly in a processor of aserver computing device, is provided that comprises receiving, at amemory of the server computing device, the request for access, therequest for access performed using a security device at an access pointdevice communicatively coupled to the server computing device,localizing a mobile computing device having a preestablished associationwith the security device, and enabling the request for access when aposition of the mobile computing device as determined from thelocalizing is within a predetermined threshold distance from a locationof the access point device.

The terms localize, or localization, as used herein refer to determininga unique coordinate position of the mobile device at a specific locationalong a route being traversed relative to the indoor area or facility.In some embodiments, localization may also include determining a floorwithin the building, and thus involve determining not only horizontalplanar (x, y) coordinates, but also include a vertical, or z, coordinateof the mobile device, the latter embodying a floor number within amulti-floor building, for example. In other embodiments, the (x, y, z)coordinates may be expressed either in a local reference frame specificto the mobile device, or in accordance with a global coordinatereference frame.

The indoor facility, in embodiments, may be an indoor area within anyone of a shopping mall, a warehouse, a factory building, an airportfacility, a hospital facility, a university campus facility or any atleast partially enclosed building, in one embodiment being accessiblealong a pedestrian route. The term pedestrian as used herein is intendednot encompass not only walking pedestrians, but also users of mobilephones moving at typical pedestrian speeds, for example at less than 10miles per hour using automated means within the pedestrian area,including but not limited to automated wheelchairs or automatedpeople-moving indoor carts.

A server computing device-based system for facilitating a request foraccess is also provide. The system comprises a processor and a memory.The memory includes instructions executable in the processor to receive,at a memory of the server computing device, the request for access, therequest for access performed using a security device at an access pointdevice communicatively coupled to the server computing device, localizea mobile computing device having a preestablished association with thesecurity device, and enable the request for access when a position ofthe mobile computing device as determined from the localizing is withina predetermined threshold distance from a location of the access pointdevice.

One or more embodiments described herein provide that methods,techniques, and actions performed by a computing device are performedprogrammatically, or as a computer implemented method. Programmatically,as used herein, means through the use of code or processor executableinstructions. These instructions can be stored in one or more memoryresources of the computing device, including a non-transitory mediumstoring the processor executable instructions. A programmaticallyperformed step may or may not be automatic.

One or more embodiments described herein can be implemented usingprogrammatic modules, engines, or components. A programmatic module,engine, or component can include a program, a sub-routine, a portion ofa program, or a software component or a hardware component capable ofperforming one or more stated tasks or functions. As used herein, amodule or component can exist on a hardware component independently ofother modules or components. Alternatively, a module or component can bea shared element or process of other modules, programs or machines.

A mobile device as described herein may be implemented, in whole or inpart, on mobile computing devices such as cellular or smartphones,laptop computers, wearable computer devices, and tablet devices. Memory,processing, and network resources may all be used in connection with theuse and performance of embodiments described herein, including with theperformance of any method or with the implementation of any system.

Furthermore, one or more embodiments described herein may be implementedthrough the use of logic instructions that are executable by one or moreprocessors. These instructions may be carried on a computer-readablemedium. In particular, machines shown with embodiments herein includeprocessor(s) and various forms of memory for storing data andinstructions. Examples of computer-readable mediums and computer storagemediums include portable memory storage units, and flash memory (such ascarried on smartphones). A mobile device as described herein utilizesprocessors, memory, and logic instructions stored on computer-readablemedium. Embodiments described herein may be implemented in the form ofcomputer processor-executable logic instructions or programs stored oncomputer memory mediums.

System Description

FIG. 1 illustrates, in an example embodiment, server-based system 100for facilitating a request for access, such as to an entrance along apedestrian route to an indoor facility or building. Mobile device 102may be such as a cellular or smartphone, a laptop or a tablet computer,or a wearable computer device that may be operational for any one ormore of telephony, data communication, and data computing. Mobile device102 may include fingerprint data of an indoor facility and proximatepedestrian area stored in a local memory. In other variations, mobiledevice 102 may be connected within computer network communication system107, such as the internet or other wide area network, to one or moreremote server computing device(s) storing the fingerprint data, with thelatter being communicatively accessible to mobile device 102 fordownload into a local memory of mobile device 102.

A pedestrian navigation, indoor positioning or localization softwareapplication 105 may be downloaded, installed, and stored locally in amemory of mobile device 102, and configured to render a physical layoutmap of an indoor facility and proximate pedestrian area within a userinterface display of mobile device 102. In one embodiment, localizationapplication 105 may incorporate one or more portions ofprocessor-executable instructions manifesting a capability for indoornavigation or positioning based at least on fingerprint data of thefacility. Localization application 105 may be constituted of logicinstructions executable in a processor of mobile device 102 in oneembodiment, and provides, at least in part, capability for localizingmobile device 102. The terms localize or localization as used hereinrefer to determining an estimated coordinate position (x, y, z) along aroute or trajectory being traversed in or proximate an indoor facilityby mobile device 102 in accompaniment of a user, in an embodiment.

Mobile device 102 may include sensor functionality by way of sensordevices. The sensor devices may include inertial sensors such as anaccelerometer and a gyroscope, and magnetometer or other magnetic fieldsensing functionality, barometric or other ambient pressure sensingfunctionality, humidity sensor, thermometer, and ambient lightingsensors such as to detect ambient lighting intensity. Mobile device 102may also include capability for detecting and communicatively accessingambient wireless communication signals including but not limited to anyof Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, RFID, and alsosatellite-based navigations signals including global positioning system(GPS) signals. Mobile device 102 further includes the capability fordetecting, via sensor devices, and measuring a received signal strength,and of determining signal connectivity parameters, related to theambient wireless signals. In particular, mobile device 102 may includelocation determination capability such as by way of a GPS module havinga GPS receiver, and a communication interface for communicativelycoupling to communication network 107, including by sending andreceiving cellular data over data and voice channels.

Localization application 105 of mobile device 102 includes instructionsstored in memory 202 of mobile device 102, the instructions beingexecutable in a processor of mobile device 102, to localize mobiledevice 102 in terms of determining position or location coordinates,such as (x, y, z) coordinates expressed according to a local or a globalcoordinate system. In alternate embodiments, it is contemplated that anyone or more or portions of localization application 105 may be locatedat remote server device 101 and communicatively accessible to mobiledevice 102 via network communication interface 207.

A fingerprint data repository, or any portion(s) thereof, may be storedin server device 101, and made communicatively accessible to mobiledevice 102 via communication network 107. Server 101 may include accesslogic module 106 for facilitating access to an entrance of an indoorfacility, in an embodiment. In some embodiments, it is contemplated thatthe fingerprint data repository, or any portions of data andprocessor-executable instructions constituting the fingerprint datarepository, may be downloaded for storage, at least temporarily, withina memory of mobile device 102. In embodiments, the fingerprint map datastored in the fingerprint data repository further associates particularpositions along pedestrian route of the facility or indoor area with anycombination of fingerprint data, including gyroscope data, accelerometerdata, wireless signal strength data, wireless connectivity data,magnetic data, barometric data, acoustic data, line-of sight data, andambient lighting data stored thereon.

The terms fingerprint and fingerprint data as used herein refer totime-correlated, individual measurements of any of, or any combinationof, received wireless communication signal strength and signalconnectivity parameters, magnetic field parameters (strength, direction)or barometric pressure parameters, and mobile device inertial sensordata at unique locations along a route being traversed, and alsoanticipated for traversal, by the mobile device. In other words, afingerprint as referred to herein may include a correlation of sensorand signal information (including, but not necessarily limited towireless signal strength, wireless connectivity information, magnetic orbarometric information, inertial sensor information and GPS locationinformation) associated for a unique location relative to the facility.The magnetic field information may include magnetic field strength anddirection measurements, and also determined magnetic spatial derivativeparameters. Thus, fingerprint data associated with a particular locationor position may provide a fingerprint signature that uniquely correlatesto that particular location or position. A sequence of positions orlocations that constitute a navigation path traversed by the mobiledevice relative to a given indoor facility may be fingerprint-mappedduring a calibration process, and the resulting fingerprint map storedin a fingerprint data repository of server 101. Server 101 may storerespective fingerprint maps of various buildings and indoor areas. Therespective building or indoor facility fingerprint maps, or any portionsthereof, may be downloaded into a memory of mobile device 102 for use inconjunction with the pedestrian navigation software applicationexecuting thereon.

A particular fingerprint or signature based on any of received wirelesscommunication signal strength and signal connectivity parameters,magnetic field parameters or barometric pressure parameters, and mobiledevice inertial sensor data may be detected or recorded by mobile device102, whereupon the fingerprint or signature as detected may be matchedto a reference fingerprint, or a reference pattern including a set offingerprints, in a stored fingerprint map of a given facility madeaccessible to localization application 105 to identify a unique positionof mobile device 102 along a route being traversed. As used herein, termsignal connectivity, as distinguished from a signal strength, refers toa wireless radio frequency (RF) signal being available for use inbi-directional data communication, such as between devices that bothtransmit and receive data using that available wireless RF signal. Insome embodiments, given that sampling times and sampling rates appliedin conjunction with particular mobile device sensors may be different,the signal and sensor information as measured during the fingerprintcalibration process may be time-averaged across particular periods oftime, with the time-averaged value being used to represent the signalinformation at any given instance of time within that particular periodof time in which the signal information is time-averaged. Fingerprintdata may be used to track traversal of mobile device 102 along asequence of positions that constitute a pedestrian route within, andeven adjoining, the indoor facility.

Security device 104, in an embodiment, may be a portable magnetic- ornear field communication (NFC)-enabled card encoded with access orsecurity credential details unique to a particular user. Mobile device102 may also be associated with that given user. The association of useraccess credential parameters, such as but not limited to a user identityand security level entitlement, shared in common with both mobile device102 and security device 104, may be registered with server device 101.In an embodiment, a unique access device 104 is linked to a given mobiledevice 102, as representative of a particular user who, in accordancewith security credentials established and registered at server 101, isentitled to possession of a given mobile device 102 in association witha unique security device 104.

Access point device 103, also enabled with magnetic and NFC capability,in one embodiment may be a fixed location access point device capable ofrecognizing, recording and responding to an access request initiatedusing security device 104, such as performed by a swiping action ofsecurity device 104 upon or proximate access point device 103. Accesspoint device 103 may be fixed in location, deployed in conjunction withingress or egress means to an indoor facility, in an embodiment.

In one variation, access point device 103 may be configured to induce oremit a pattern of predetermined magnetic characteristics unique to itsparticular coordinate position as deployed relative to the indoorfacility. In one embodiment, the equipment constituting access pointdevice 103 may be specially selected and configured based on aproclivity for inducing and establishing magnetic characteristics, suchas magnetic field magnitude, dip angle and orientation, in a manner thatis controllable, stable, repeatable, and persistent over time, to theextent possible. The particular magnetic characteristics associated withaccess point device 103 thus established may be recorded, again as partof a magnetic fingerprint calibration process for instance, stored as amagnetic signature, pattern, or characteristic unique to that position,including but not limited to spatial derivative magnetic fingerprintthat is calculated based on magnetic fingerprint data acquired atpositions along a trajectory of mobile device proximate access pointdevice 103. Determining a magnetic spatial derivative signature capturesthe relative changes in magnetic field as a mobile device 102 traversesa route proximate access point device 103. The magnetic fieldcharacteristics and magnetic spatial derivative signature as determinedmay be used to localize, or estimate a position of, mobile device 102relative to that location of deployment of access point device 103.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment architecture 200 of servercomputing device 101 for monitoring and enabling a request for access.Server 101, in embodiment architecture 200, may be implemented on one ormore server devices, and includes processor 201, memory 202 which mayinclude a read-only memory (ROM) as well as a random access memory (RAM)or other dynamic storage device, display screen or device 203, inputmechanisms 204 and communication interface 207 communicatively coupledto communication network 107. Processor 201 is configured with softwareand/or other logic to perform one or more processes, steps and otherfunctions described with implementations, such as described by FIGS. 1through 3 herein. Processor 201 may process information and instructionsstored in memory 202, such as provided by a random access memory (RAM)or other dynamic storage device, for storing information andinstructions which are executable in processor 201. Memory 202 also maybe used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed by processor201. Memory 202 may include access logic module 106 constituted ofaccess request module 210, localization module 211 and access enablemodule 212. Memory 202 may also include the ROM or other static storagedevice for storing static information and instructions for processor201; a storage device, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, may beprovided for storing information and instructions. Communicationinterface 207 enables server 101 to communicate with one or morecommunication networks 104 (e.g., a cellular network) through use of anyone, or both, of the wired and wireless network links. Using the networklink, server 101 can communicate with mobile computing devices 102.

Processor 201 uses executable instructions of access request module 210to acquire localization data of mobile device 102, as localized withinthe pedestrian area based on using fingerprint data of the indoorfacility and proximate area. In other variations, localization of atleast some of mobile device 102 may be performed at server 101 based onsensor and wireless signal data, and magnetic data, as acquired atmobile device 102 and communicated to server 101 via communicationnetwork 107.

Processor 201 uses executable instructions stored in localization module211 to estimate a coordinate position or location of mobile device 102,and also a confidence level indicative of a degree of accuracy for theestimated position. Since the accuracy associated with estimating theposition, or location, of mobile device 102 as a consequence oflocalization is not absolute, but rather is subject to the statistical,or probabilistic, nature of the fingerprint parameters, including butnot limited to the inherently probabilistic nature of wireless radiofrequency signal parameters as received.

Processor 201 uses executable instructions stored in access enablemodule 212 to enable a request for access when a position of mobiledevice 102 as determined from the localizing is within a predeterminedthreshold distance from a location of the access point device 103.

Methodology

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment method 300 of localizing mobiledevice 102 within access request system 100. In describing examples ofFIG. 3, reference is made to the examples of FIGS. 1-2 for purposes ofillustrating suitable components or elements for performing a step orsub-step being described.

Examples of method steps described herein relate to the use of servercomputing device 101 in conjunction with at least mobile device 102 forimplementing the techniques described. According to one embodiment, thetechniques are performed by access request logic module 106 of server101 and localization application 105 of mobile device 102 in response tothe processor 201 executing one or more sequences of software logicinstructions that constitute localization application 105. Inembodiments, localization application 105 may include the one or moresequences of instructions within sub-modules including access requestmodule 210, and localization module 211, and access enable module 212.Such instructions may be read into memory 202 from machine-readablemedium, such as memory storage devices, or downloaded into memory 202via network communication interface 207. In executing the sequences ofinstructions of access request module 210, localization module 211 andaccess enable module 212 of localization application 105 in memory 202,processor 201 performs the process steps described herein. Inalternative implementations, at least some hard-wired circuitry may beused in place of, or in combination with, the software logicinstructions to implement examples described herein. Thus, the examplesdescribed herein are not limited to any particular combination ofhardware circuitry and software instructions. Additionally, it iscontemplated that in alternative embodiments, the techniques herein, orportions thereof, may be distributed between mobile device 102 and aremote but communicatively accessible server computing device.

At step 310, processor 201 executes instructions included in accessrequest module 210 to receive, at memory 202 server computing device101, the request for access, the request for access performed usingsecurity device 104 upon access point device 103. Access point device103 may be communicatively coupled to server computing device 101.

At step 320, processor 201 executes instructions included inlocalization module 211 to localize mobile computing device 102 inpossession of a user that requests access using security device 104 ataccess point device 103, such as upon entering or exiting an indoorfacility, in one embodiment. The localizing may be based on any one ormore of an orientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, amagnetic field spatial derivative signature, a received wirelesscommunication signal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and abarometric pressure in accordance with fingerprint data of the indoorfacility that deploys access point device 103. Localizing of mobiledevice 102 is performed generally contemporaneously with the receipt ofthe access request at server 101, which in one embodiment, may be a timedelay that ranges from 1-5 seconds of the access request.

As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, any localization,or location determination, of mobile device 102 that is based, even atleast partly, on fingerprint data constituted of radio frequency (RF)signal data, sensor data and magnetic field data, cannot be guaranteedwith an absolute certainty of one hundred percent. For instance,considering a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless RF signal context forillustration purposes, such a BLE signal as broadcast in the 2.4 GHzradio frequency may be may be distorted and attenuated by interferencefrom specific elements in the environment of the pedestrian area. Suchsignal interfering elements may include metallic surfaces bouncing theBLE signal off the surface in unexpected ways as it is unable topenetrate the material, BLE signal absorption, attenuation anddistortion caused by human body mass absorbing, water, concrete, marbleand brick structures and distorting BLE signal, other mobile device 102and other electronic devices operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency,fluorescent lighting emitting signals in the 2.4 GHz frequency, andelectric power lines, for example. When the BLE signal is distorted, dueto signal interference, for example, a receiving mobile device willreceive a signal that does not reflect the real situation, e.g. thedistance to a fingerprint data point or position might not be accurate,since the accuracy levels are affected by various sources of signaldistortion and not reflective of actual (x, y) coordinate that might bedetermined from localization.

In some embodiments, instructions included in localization module 211may be executable in processor 201 to determine a respective confidencelevel indicative of a degree of accuracy for the first and the at leasta second estimated positions, given that the accuracy associated withestimating the position, or location, of a mobile device 102 as aconsequence of localization is not absolute, but rather is subject tothe statistical, or probabilistic, nature of the fingerprint parameters,including but not limited to the inherently probabilistic nature ofwireless radio frequency signal parameters as received. In someembodiments, a degree of accuracy associated with the positionestimation may be indicated by a confidence level that is determinedfor, and assigned in conjunction with, estimated first and secondpositions as localized. As a measure of the accuracy of localization ofmobile device 102, the confidence level associated with the locationestimate may be obtained by fusing the probabilistic results of multipleconcurrent location estimates. In some embodiments, the variance in thex and y components, with respect to their mean values (μ_(x), μ_(y)),can be estimated independently as:

$\sigma_{x}^{2} = {\frac{1}{N - 1}{\sum\left( {x - \mu_{x}} \right)^{2}}}$$\sigma_{y}^{2} = {\frac{1}{N - 1}{\sum\left( {y - \mu_{y}} \right)^{2}}}$and combined to produce the confidence level. In one embodiment, theoverall confidence level can be selected as a function of the maximumstandard deviation of the x-y components, as σ=max(σ_(x), σ_(y)). Inother embodiments, a weighted variance of the x and y, where the weightsare based on the probability of each individual estimate can be used toproduce the confidence estimate. When multiple trajectory-based locationestimates are available, trajectories can be grouped into categoriesbased on similarity and a probability spread/confidence can be assignedon a per-group basis. If the per-group probability/confidence level ofone group significantly exceeds that of the other groups, then theconfidence in the validity of that group is raised, and hence, theconfidence in the location estimate increases. Conversely, if severaldistinct per-group probabilities are similar, then the confidence in theper-group results are reduced, leading to a lower confidence level.Thus, the estimated position comprises a probabilistic estimateexpressed as a confidence level.

At step 330, processor 201 of server 101 executes instructions includedin access enable module 212 to enable the request for access when aposition of mobile computing device 102 as determined from thelocalizing is within a predetermined threshold distance from a locationof access point device 104. In one variation, upon a user in possessionof both mobile device 102 and security device 104 performing a requestfor access, such as by a swipe action using security device 104 uponaccess point device 103, server 101 may enable facility access for theuser only if, at a time generally coincident with receiving orrecognizing the swipe action, mobile device 102 is localized to acoordinate position that is within a given predetermined distancethreshold, ranging from 1 meter to 3 meters in one embodiment, of theknown location of access point device 103. In another embodiment, theuser of security card 104 may be denied access, thereby limiting alikelihood of unauthorized ingress and egress from the indoor facility,if mobile device 102 position as localized does not match the fixed,known location of access point device 103, at the time that securitycard 104 is used to perform the swipe action at access point device 104.

In other variations, the distance threshold may not be fixed andpredetermined, but instead may be dynamically set or adjusted by serverdevice 101, depending on the confidence level associated with thelocalizing of mobile device 102. For instance, a lower probability, orlower confidence level, associated with the localizing may result in thedistance threshold being increased or adjusted higher, while aconfidence level associated with the localizing may result in thedistance threshold being reduced or dynamically set lower.

It is contemplated for embodiments described herein to extend toindividual elements and concepts described herein, independently ofother concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to includecombinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. Althoughembodiments are described in detail herein with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications andvariations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art.Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be definedby the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it iscontemplated that a particular feature described either individually oras part of an embodiment can be combined with other individuallydescribed features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the otherfeatures and embodiments make no specific mention of the particularcombination of features. Thus, the absence of describing combinationsshould not preclude the inventors from claiming rights to suchcombinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of facilitating a request for access,the method executed in a processor of a server computing device andcomprising: receiving, at a memory of the server computing device, aninput from a security device associated with a request for access at anaccess point device communicatively coupled to the server computingdevice, the access point device inducing a magnetic signature unique toa location of the access point device, the magnetic signature includinga magnetic spatial derivative signature capturing relative changes in amagnetic field corresponding to a sequence of positions as a mobiledevice traverses a route proximate the access point device; localizingthe mobile device having a preestablished association with the securitydevice, based on the magnetic signature; and enabling the request foraccess, based at least in part on the localizing.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein the security device comprises at least one of a magnetic and anear field communication (NFC) portable security card.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the access point device is one of a magnetic accesspoint and a near field communication (NFC) access point device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the localizing is based on at least one of anorientation, a magnetic field strength and direction, a receivedwireless communication signal strength, a wireless connectivityindication and a barometric pressure in accordance with fingerprint dataof an indoor facility.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fingerprintdata includes respective time-stamps whereby the orientation, themagnetic field strength and direction, the magnetic field spatialderivative signature, the received wireless signal strength, thewireless connectivity indication and the barometric pressure arecorrelated in accordance with the respective time-stamps.
 6. The methodof claim 5 wherein the access point device is located along a pedestrianroute.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access is enabled when aposition of the mobile computing device as determined from thelocalizing is within a predetermined threshold distance from thelocation of the access point device.
 8. The method of claim 7 whereinthe position of the mobile device comprises a confidence levelindicative of a degree of accuracy for the estimated position.
 9. Themethod of claim 8 wherein the threshold distance is dynamically adjustedas one of a lower and a higher based on the confidence level.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the confidence level associated with thelocation estimate is obtained by fusing probabilistic results ofmultiple concurrent location estimates of the mobile device.
 11. Aserver computing system for facilitating a request for access, thesystem comprising: a processor; and a memory including instructionsexecutable in the processor to: receive, at a memory of the servercomputing device, an input from a security device associated with arequest for access at an access point device communicatively coupled tothe server computing device, the access point device inducing a magneticsignature unique to a location of the access point device, the magneticsignature including a magnetic spatial derivative signature capturingrelative changes in a magnetic field corresponding to a sequence ofpositions as a mobile device traverses a route proximate the accesspoint device; localize the mobile device having a preestablishedassociation with the security device, based on the magnetic signature;and enable the request for access, based at least in part on thelocalizing.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the security devicecomprises at least one of a magnetic and a near field communication(NFC) portable security card.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein theaccess point device is one of a magnetic access point and a near fieldcommunication (NFC) access point device.
 14. The system of claim 11wherein the localizing is based on at least one of an orientation, amagnetic field strength and direction, a received wireless communicationsignal strength, a wireless connectivity indication and a barometricpressure in accordance with fingerprint data of an indoor facility. 15.The system of claim 14 wherein the fingerprint data includes respectivetime-stamps whereby the orientation, the magnetic field strength anddirection, the magnetic field spatial derivative signature, the receivedwireless signal strength, the wireless connectivity indication and thebarometric pressure are correlated in accordance with the respectivetime-stamps.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the access point deviceis located along a pedestrian route.
 17. The system of claim 11 whereinthe access is enabled when a position of the mobile computing device asdetermined from the localizing is within a predetermined thresholddistance from the location of the access point device.
 18. The system ofclaim 17 wherein the position of the mobile device comprises aconfidence level indicative of a degree of accuracy for the estimatedposition.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the threshold distance isdynamically adjusted as one of a lower and a higher based on theconfidence level.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the confidencelevel associated with the location estimate is obtained by fusingprobabilistic results of multiple concurrent location estimates of themobile device.